ARTICLES ABOUT BACKPACKS BY DATE - PAGE 2

For kids getting free or reduced-price meals at school, this backpack carries them from Friday afternoon to Monday morning. That's because it's filled with food. And Boca Helping Hands' Backpacks program is going to three new elementary schools starting next week, bringing the number of schools offering the weekend meals to eight. It takes about $6 to fill these backpacks with six meals like pre-cooked macaroni and cheese with a peel-off top, two juice boxes and two snacks. But it could make a crucial difference for the 1,400 kids who will be going home with them, organizers say. Addison Mizner Elementary School joined this year as Principal Kelly Burke noticed at the end of last year that the number of kids on the free or reduced-price lunches at her school had climbed from 7 percent to 20 percent in five years.

Michele Janiszewski is concerned that all of her personal items will be on display with nothing but the new Miami Dolphins logo to hide behind. Scott Pustizzi is more concerned about being seen toting the new NFL-sanctioned clear plastic tote bag around at Dolphins games. Both are long-time season-ticket holders who this week received the standard-issue bag that will be de rigueur at Sun Life Stadium beginning with Saturday night's Dolphins exhibition against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Children's Services Council of Broward County is on a mission to provide backpacks, shoes and uniforms to children in need before school starts. Now in its third year, the Back to School Community Extravaganza collects supplies for children from elementary through high school age in unstable housing. That can include parents who have recently lost their jobs or faced some other hardship. “They're not homeless, but they do need some assistance,” said Sandra Bernard-Bastien, the council's director of public affairs and organizational development.

With the new school year starting Aug. 19 for Palm Beach County , Ben Naar, a Boynton Beach chiropractor who practices alongside his wife, Tina Schechter, has some advice for parents to help their children minimize back pain from schlepping heavy backpacks to and from school. Naar, who has been in practice in Boynton Beach for nearly 30 years, said he has seen an increase in the number of children experiencing back pain from overloaded backpacks. "A lot of the children we treat get headaches as well," he said.

As families and children gear up to go back to school this month, many community agencies are having school supply drives and offering backpacks and other needed services to students. Here are a few of the local events: • JAFCO collecting school supplies for 400 underserved children JAFCO, Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options, a social service agency that serves abused, neglected and special needs children is collecting school supplies for more than 400 children in their service area.

Celeb Nick Cannon of "America's Got Talent" will help Boca-Raton based Office Depot donate 8,000 sackpacks filled with school supplies to Broward County charitable organizations and agencies serving children in Fort Lauderdale Friday. The Office Depot Foundation will donate the backpacks at 10 a.m. at the Fort Lauderdale store. More than 20 Broward County organizations and nonprofits, including Women in Distress, Boys & Girls Clubs, Ann Storck Center as well as Broward County Parks and Recreation, The Salvation Army, the Urban League, YMCA will get the backpacks to distribute to children in need.

Get up to two backpacks for a penny each at Office Max. Join the free MaxPerks Bonus Rewards program when you purchase backpacks priced $39.99 to $59.99 marked with the rewards offer. In September, the purchase price (minus the penny) will be posted to your account for use on your choice of merchandise. Click here for the deal. The offer ends Saturday, Aug. 3. Read Sunday's Doreen's Deals for tips to save on back-to-school shopping during Florida's tax holiday which runs Friday through Aug. 4. "Like" our Sentinel Deals page on Facebook ; follow Doreen Christensen on Twitter@PrettyGoodIdeas and sign up for Deals text alerts .

After completing a recent food drive, the HOPE Outreach Center is switching its focus toward collecting backpacks and school supplies for children. The nonprofit HOPE (Helping Other People Everyday) runs a food pantry and provides families with financial assistance, among other services. In May, HOPE partnered with 15 southwest Broward Walgreens stores to collect canned food for its pantry. The drive collected more than 5,000 pounds of food, said Kathy Blanton, president of HOPE's board of directors.

UPDATE : Late Friday, the city of Miami announced that backpacks will not be allowed by parade watchers during the Miami Heat NBA championship celebration. " We're taking precautionary measures to avoid mishaps," Miami Police Officer Kenia Reyes said. "We'll have plain clothes officers there and backpacks are a no no. Anyone with a backpack will not be allowed near the public celebration. They have to be cognizant of public safety. We'll also have plenty of police officers along the route to give assistance.

For the third Corporate Run of the series, this one in downtown Miami Thursday, the more than 25,000 runners can expect some changes following the Boston Marathon bombings. Organizers are asking participants not to bring backpacks, gym bags and large bags for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run Miami, which begins at 6:45 p.m. in Bayfront Park, 301 N. Biscayne Blvd. Race organizers are working with the Miami Police Department, which has added extra security, most of which will not be visible.